Leonard was starting to get the hang of things—or at least, that's what Sophia begrudgingly admitted to herself, like a doctor admitting a patient was recovering, but through gritted teeth. He still played the clueless intern well, like a method actor committed to his role, but every now and then, he did something that made her pause, made her question the very fabric of reality. Like the way he handled the difficult client last week, or how he always seemed unfazed, no matter how chaotic things got, like he was a zen master in a sea of office madness.
She hated to say it, even to herself, but he was improving. Or, at least, he was showing glimpses of competence that made her head spin.
Unfortunately, her peace, which was as fragile as a soap bubble in a hurricane, was short-lived.
A new intern had joined the team—Ethan Wu, a sharp, ambitious young man who clearly had something to prove, like a contestant on a reality show vying for the title of "Most Driven Intern." From the moment he stepped into the Zhang Group's luxury real estate headquarters, he carried himself like he owned the place, or at least, like he was about to. Unlike Leonard, Ethan was aggressively competent, eager to impress, and constantly seeking praise from their superiors, like a puppy fetching a newspaper, but the newspaper was a spreadsheet.
Which meant, of course, that Leonard found him absolutely hilarious, like a comedian finding a goldmine of material.
"Ah, competition," Leonard mused, leaning back in his chair, watching Ethan practically sprint across the office to hand-deliver a file to their supervisor, like he was running a marathon for office supplies. "The thrill of the intern Olympics. May the best spreadsheet win."
Sophia shot him a look that could curdle milk. "Maybe you should take notes instead of slacking off. Some of us are trying to work."
Leonard grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "But where's the fun in that? I'm here for the experience, not the… efficiency."
Ethan, overhearing them, turned back with a smug smirk, like he was the star of his own office drama. "Some of us take our futures seriously, Leon. We're not here to waste time."
Leonard feigned shock, placing a hand over his heart. "Wait, so I'm not here just for the free coffee? My world is shattered."
Sophia pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache trying to stage a full-scale invasion. "I swear, you two are going to give me a headache that requires industrial-strength painkillers."
Tensions only escalated from there. Ethan made it his mission to outshine Leonard at every turn—answering emails faster, volunteering for extra shifts, even throwing around industry jargon to impress the higher-ups, like a parrot reciting Shakespeare. And yet, despite his efforts, Leonard never seemed the least bit threatened. He just… let Ethan tire himself out, like a cat watching a mouse run in circles.
Sophia wasn't sure whether to be annoyed or impressed. It was like watching a slow-motion train wreck, but with spreadsheets.
Then came the first real test of the day, the office equivalent of a final exam.
A high-profile client was scheduled for a last-minute visit to inspect one of the penthouses before purchase. Sophia had just finished briefing the team when a disaster struck—the assigned agent had mixed up the schedules, and the penthouse wasn't properly staged. It was like finding out the star of a play was wearing their pajamas.
Panic rippled through the department, like a wave crashing on a beach. The client was already on their way, their expectations as high as the penthouse itself.
"Dammit," Sophia muttered, feeling her stress levels rise to DEFCON 1. "We need to fix this now. And fast."
Before Ethan could rush forward to claim the spotlight, like a knight charging into battle, Leonard casually rolled up his sleeves, revealing forearms that looked surprisingly… toned. "Relax, boss. I got this. It's showtime."
Sophia turned to him, skeptical, her eyebrows raised like question marks. "You? What exactly do you think you're going to do? Perform magic?"
He winked, a flash of mischief in his eyes. "Watch and learn. I'm a man of many hidden talents."
To everyone's surprise, Leonard moved quickly, like a director orchestrating a last-minute play. He instructed the housekeeping staff to freshen up the space, discreetly shifting decorative pieces to make the penthouse look polished, like a movie set ready for its close-up. He even called in a favor from the hotel's VIP concierge to send over a bottle of expensive wine as a welcome gift—an easy trick to distract the client while they finalized the staging, like a magician's sleight of hand.
By the time the client arrived, everything was flawless, like a scene from a luxury magazine.
Sophia folded her arms, watching as Leonard smoothly engaged the client in conversation, effortlessly deflecting concerns and highlighting the apartment's best features, like a seasoned diplomat negotiating a treaty. He wasn't just 'winging it'—he knew exactly what he was doing, and he was doing it well.
Ethan, on the other hand, looked like he'd swallowed a lemon, his expression a mix of confusion and resentment.
After the client left—pleased with what they saw—Sophia turned to Leonard, her eyes narrowed, like she was trying to solve a complex equation. "Alright, I'll bite. How did you pull that off? Are you secretly a superhero?"
He smirked, a flash of white teeth and hidden secrets. "Oh, you know… luck. And a bit of charm. And maybe a sprinkle of magic."
Sophia scowled, her frustration growing. "Bull. There's something you're not telling me."
Leonard chuckled but didn't say more. If she wanted answers, she'd have to dig for them. And that annoyed her more than anything. It was like trying to solve a riddle wrapped in an enigma, and she hated riddles.
Meanwhile, in another department of the Zhang Group, Nathan Zhang leaned back in his office chair, flipping through reports, his expression unreadable, a storm brewing behind his eyes. He had been too busy to socialize much, but something—or rather, someone—had caught his attention today.
Sophia Chen.
He hadn't spoken to her yet. Hadn't even made his presence known. But he saw her earlier in the hallway, laughing at something Leonard said, her eyes sparkling with a life he felt he had lost.
And just like that, the past came knocking, like an unwelcome guest at a party.
Nathan set down the papers, his expression unreadable, a storm brewing behind his eyes. She looks happy. Too happy. And with him. He thought to himself. He's playing her. Just like he plays everyone.
I need to stop this. He thought. Before she gets hurt again.
Nathan felt a surge of anger, a familiar wave of possessiveness. He had loved Sophia, or at least, he thought he had. Their relationship had been intense, passionate, but ultimately destructive. He had made mistakes, hurt her, and lost her. And now, he was watching her fall for someone else, someone he knew was hiding something.
He couldn't let it happen. He wouldn't let it happen. He had to protect her, even if it meant exposing Leonard's secrets.
Nathan stood up, his expression determined. He had a plan, a way to expose Leonard and win Sophia back. He would play his own game, and he would win.
He walked out of his office, his eyes fixed on the conference room, where Sophia and Leonard were still working. He had to get closer to her, to remind her of their past, to show her that he was the one who truly cared.